First Look: Russell Crowe in Gladiator 2: The Medieval Years

For all the rumors and supposition about the slimmed-down, no-tights, fighting-trim Russell Crowe who would reunite with Ridley Scott for Robin Hood, the first look at his title character suggests it would have saved everybody a lot of time to just say, "He's supposed to look like Maximus." Find the full view after the jump.

USA Today offers the initial glimpse of Crowe in his Nottingham attire, of which producer Brian Grazer notes:

"He doesn't have the old Robin Hood tights," says producer Brian Grazer. "He's got armor. He's very medieval. He looks, if anything, more like he did in Gladiator than anything we're used to seeing with Robin Hood."

Funny -- this is the same way prince of thieves Kevin Costner attempted to validate his scarf and mullet back in 1990. Better luck to Crowe this time around; at least he doesn't have as far to go to poorly fake his accent.

· First look: New Robin Hood on point with 'Gladiator' [USA Today via The Playlist]